CJIA back to normalcy after night of chaos

Jul 31, 2008 News

After a night of panic and chaos, the situation at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport was almost back to normal yesterday.
Up until 19:30 hrs last evening, the maintenance company for the generator at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was working to get the equipment up and running.
A source told Kaieteur News that the radiator for the generator was removed early yesterday as the maintenance company sought to determine the problem with the equipment.
Six flights arrived during the day while two more landed last evening.
As the situation is being remedied, the GCAA tower was yesterday equipped with new battery back up systems.
On Tuesday, lightning knocked out the electricity supply to the GCAA tower and the entire airport. The situation worsened after the back up generator went down when a flight was about to land at the airport.
Efforts by technicians and controllers stationed there averted disaster when an approaching Sky Services aircraft almost ran off the runway.
Reports reaching Kaieteur News stated that at about 14:15 hrs on Tuesday there was a thunderstorm in the area, which knocked out the electricity.
On routine the GCAA generator kicked in but at about 16:15 hrs the generator shut down.
A source close to the airport operations told Kaieteur News that the incident involving the Sky Services aircraft was ‘frightening.’
The total shutdown at the airport led to the cancellation of Caribbean Airlines and Zoom flights, which were scheduled to arrive on Tuesday evening.
A source told Kaieteur News that GCAA was advised some months ago to ‘get rid’ of the generator, which was deemed ‘outdated’ by the maintaining company.
Only a few weeks ago lightning stuck the tower and damaged equipment.
To add to the situation, the source said that the main navigation equipment room was vandalised.
Yesterday, the GCAA was advertising for maintenance technicians for the generator at the control tower.